SpokEasy

February 2024

Hop to It

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Hop to It! 🐇 Today I decided to hop to it — with a new pair of socks! It’s amazing how springy a new pair of socks feels to my feet. This is a day to hop (leap; jump; spring, etc.) anyway; because today is Leap Day! Not that I was doing any jumping on the bike. To be honest, I don’t feel any need to; but if I ever did an in-city bicycle tour, being able to hop a curb would be a skill worth having. Off-trail riders need it, too, I would say; especially in warm weather, when snakes might be out! Who wants to plow into a reptile? This video shows the progression from lifting the front wheel, to a full bunny hop. I’m surprised that this skill is doable on platform pedals. I had an idea that I’d need to pull up hard with my legs; and that my feet would come unclipped in the process. Apparently that’s not true. But I’m not going to hop to it right away.  Great Leapin’ Arms? 💪 Another thing about bunny hopping is, do I have sufficient upper-body strength? Great leapin’ arms, maybe I should get into the habit of heaving the kettlebell weights around! These flat-bottomed weights come in sizes 5 pounds to 50 pounds. I think I’ll skip that last one; and in fact 5 pounds is plenty for me at present.  But there’s work that needs to be done in the kitchen. I’d better hop to it!   This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Purebred? February 28, 2024 Gotta Start Somewhere February 27, 2024 Weather Breeder? February 26, 2024 Don’t Trust the Forecast February 25, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Purebred?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Purebred? 🐈 Have we got a purebred storm coming up? Weather-breeder conditions persist. It remains unseasonably warm; at the moment, it’s almost 80 degrees! I know that some parts of the USA have gotten some severe weather, including tornadoes. Our forecast for later this week is rather dismaying. Tomorrow the wind could reach 20 mph; and I want to do a ride of 19 miles or so. Wind from the East (only too common) means a headwind on the way home. If I’m to ride more than 12 miles, I’d better take along a little extra food. Beginning tomorrow night, and lasting through early next week, showers and T-storms are likely. Chances of rain vary from 30% to 90%. So putting in some extra miles while I can seems like a good idea in itself. It’s that tussle with tomorrow’s headwinds that’s got me concerned. And, of course, the possibility of getting caught in a purebred T-storm while I’m out on the bike! Alternatives ⬇️ ⬆️ ? I’ve got to come up with some  alternatives if the weather means I can’t ride outdoors. Pedaling in the trainer for more than a very short time drives me bonkers; so what else can I do? Haul out a cookbook, maybe. It’s fun to choose a recipe and invent alternatives; such as my many Hoppin’ John variations. Or I can read; get some housework done; or enjoy a favorite YouTube. Can anybody think of a way to waltz with a bicycle? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Gotta Start Somewhere February 27, 2024 Weather Breeder? February 26, 2024 Don’t Trust the Forecast February 25, 2024 Early March Hares? February 24, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Gotta Start Somewhere

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Gotta Start Somewhere 🔫 Ya gotta start somewhere for any big project. Sometimes, the first thing is to kindle interest. For the novice cyclist, Cycling for Beginners can help get you rolling. But where to take it from there if you want to do a big ride? It might be your local Tour de Cure; or a cross-state ride such as BRAN; or a personal century just for the heck of it. That’s why I did my hundred-milers: just to see if I could! (Yep — I could!😊) Suppose, however, that your mileage thus far is typically on the low side; and you’re worried that a century; BRAN; RAGBRAI, etc. is beyond your reach. Well, ya gotta start somewhere! Working Up ⬆️ Consider your current level of fitness and endurance; then start working up. Lengthen your rides by a few miles per week; and don’t forget to do on-bike exercises to improve your pace. Short, hard intervals with easy riding in between are good for that. Off-bike exercises to strengthen arms and core are wise. While I was riding the adult tricycle, I never seemed to need such work. Once I moved on to a hybrid, I quickly discovered that I did need it! But you don’t have to go for body-building. I do just enough so that I can ride for miles without 1) having my abs sag, so that I go swaybacked; and 2) having my arms feel like overcooked spaghetti after 15 minutes. Some organized rides, such as Tour de Cure, have group training rides. If you’re aiming for a century, this plan is one of many that can help you prepare. During your practice rides, experiment with on-bike eating. Train your gut, they say! If you don’t get used to eating on the bike, your stomach is going to feel miserable during your long event, when you must eat to keep going. However eager you may be for that big ride, don’t neglect recovery; don’t risk overuse injuries and burnout. Does it all sound like too much? Well, yes, it is a lot. But like I said, ya gotta start somewhere! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Weather Breeder? February 26, 2024 Don’t Trust the Forecast February 25, 2024 Early March Hares? February 24, 2024 Spinning Out February 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Weather Breeder?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Weather Breeder? ⛈️ Is this a weather breeder? It’s close to 80 degrees; and I’m going out in a baseball cap instead of a stocking cap! The wind is from the South; and that brings Gulf moisture. I’m surprised that rain isn’t expected until late in the week. In fact, given the unusually warm temperatures, tornado watches wouldn’t surprise me in the least. After all, folks used to call days like today a “weather breeder”. Tomorrow it’s going to be windy. It looks like it will be mid-morning by the time the wind really starts to pick up; so maybe I can get home before things get tough. Maybe I’ll ride laps around the park, so I won’t have to ride home for miles against the breeze. On the other hand, riding against the wind is good for building strength. Start by trying it for, say, 15 seconds; then ride easy for a minute. Repeat three times; ride easy for 10 minutes; then start over. This exercise is also useful if you want to get faster. It’s small compared to the workouts mentioned in the book; but I’ve got to start somewhere, don’t I? Keeping Watch 👁️ If today’s conditions really are a weather breeder, I must be keeping watch on things. I don’t want to be miles from home if T-storms are going to break out. At the same time, I don’t want to miss out on my mileage! I finally seem to be getting back on track; and I don’t want to slip backwards! The catch is, I can’t be keeping watch on the forecast when I’m away from home. The bicycle computer that I have isn’t that sophisticated. I guess I’ll just have to take my chances. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Weather Breeder? February 26, 2024 Don’t Trust the Forecast February 25, 2024 Early March Hares? February 24, 2024 Spinning Out February 23, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Don’t Trust the Forecast

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Don’t Trust the Forecast 💨 💦 It’s gotten so that I don’t trust the forecast. I planned to ride 24-25 miles today; on the road bike, of course. Last night I checked the forecast, and it predicted winds ESE to SSE at 5-6 mph; with temperatures in the low 50s. That seemed like great conditions for a ride. What a joke. I got started at around 8:35 am; and long before I was back home, the wind had reached 12 mph! It would have been a great time for riding in the drops; but today I simply didn’t feel like doing it. Lazy, aren’t I? Wind isn’t the only aspect of “don’t trust the forecast”. How about rain? Sometimes the forecast says, 10% chance of showers; and it rains cat and dogs. Other times the prognostication is for almost certain rain; and we don’t get a drop. How about Food? 🍎🥕 Longer rides make me think, how about food? I don’t want to bonk, of course; and that means taking along cut-up bars. I put the pieces in a snack bag; and put that bag in my top-tube pouch. How do I manage getting a bite to eat while rolling? Practice riding one-handed until you can do it with confidence; then ride one-handed while your other hand gets out that bite. It’s harder when you’ve got on full-fingered gloves, I admit! That’s why I prefer warm weather for cycling. I almost never go out on a bicycle, no matter how short the distance, without taking a couple of “goos” with me. You know how you sometimes get hungry unexpectedly. Having a GU-Gel on hand might make all the difference between getting home with a bit of energy left; and dragging myself along barely able to pedal. Oh, and that forecast — highs in the 70s much of the week; with showers and maybe T-storms late in the week. So, should I trust that, or not? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Early March Hares? February 24, 2024 Spinning Out February 23, 2024 First Sure Sign February 22, 2024 Am I on Track? February 21, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Early March Hares?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Early March Hares? 🐇 I thought I was seeing early March Hares on my moon-viewing ride this morning. Never mind that the calendar says it’s still February. The first rabbit I spotted was quite close to the place where the bicycle access ramp reaches the top of the levee. And it pulled a “mad” one. The rabbit was on my right; but instead of running down the side of the levee away from me, it darted across the path — right in front of me! Apparently its hole was in that direction. Good thing I wasn’t going fast. Bunny #2 was about a mile farther on; and I’m glad to say it didn’t rush out in front of me. My legs feel a bit tired from yesterday’s ride; so when I went to the salvage store a little later this morning, I didn’t hurry. If you’ve done a long (well, longISH) ride the day before, it’s OK to ride slow and easy today. We don’t all have to be as fast as early March hares. And Tomorrow? 🌄 And tomorrow, shall I aim for 25 miles? I’m starting to do one or two rides of 19 miles or so during the week; is that trying to build up too fast? Maybe I’m subconsciously trying to make up for lost time; first CMC afthroplasty; and then lapiplasty, put a very major dent in my mileage last year! And maybe I’ll see some more early March hares tomorrow? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Early March Hares? February 24, 2024 Spinning Out February 23, 2024 First Sure Sign February 22, 2024 Am I on Track? February 21, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Spinning Out

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Spinning Out 🌪️ This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” “Spinning out” sounds to me like a Mahler compositional device (listen here between about 5:58-6:07 minutes); not a rapid-fire cadence in the face of a headwind.   How much does crank length have to do with cadence? From personal experience, I can’t say; but it does seem logical to assume that a longer crank takes more time to complete one round. Today, happily, I didn’t need to do much spinning out. The wind was 10 mph, W to NW; and much of the time it seemed to be coming from an oblique angle. It usually wasn’t a tailwind; but not a headwind, either. I averaged 11.26 mph over 19.6 miles; and for me, thats not bad. My average cadence was 73, which is a bit on the “masher” side; but that’s OK. I read somewhere that your optimal cadence depends on many factors, among them muscle-fiber composition and even, possibly, your age. Weekend Outlook 👀 The weekend outlook isn’t bad: sunny, and the wind about 10 mph. I’ll be glad to get to the salvage store tomorrow. Last Saturday I started out, panniers and all, only to be slammed by a such a strong gust of wind that I turned back. Come Sunday, I want to do a long ride — maybe I’m ready for 25 miles now? Let’s hope the weekend lookout doesn’t change by then!

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First Sure Sign

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

First Sure Sign 🪰 Yesterday I got my first sure sign of Spring. I arrived at home from a longish ride; and found a gnat stuck in the sunblock on my nose! It was about 50 degrees when I set out; and foggy. I guess  fog is another sure sign of Spring, although not the first sure sign. Fog is possible in Winter, too: just read A Christmas Carol! Today I focused on going a few miles farther; and clocked up 21.8 miles. Even if RAGBRAI is out of reach for me, I want to get my Sunday long rides back up ro 40 miles or so; and now that I have time, I want to do longer rides during the week. Weekday Ride Fueling ⛽️ Longer rides during Monday through Friday means weekday ride fueling. I’m not sure that protein bars are really the wisest choice for more than one — maybe two — long rides per week. So what to do? I flipped through Feed Zone Portables; and Masala Chicken Rice Cakes (page 80) sound good. I could use canned chicken for the recipe; but I’ll have to get curry powder. Plain Yogurt, too. Previous attempts at rice cakes have often resulted in a finished product that was too soft; so I think I need to cook the rice a little longer. I’m always afraid of letting too much water boil out. A full recipe is rather more than I can use up easily, too. But if I start doing 20+ mile rides on an almost daily basis, weekday ride fueling will become vital. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Am I on Track? February 21, 2024 Logistics February 20, 2024 Drop It February 19, 2024 I Scream February 18, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Am I on Track?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Am I on Track? 🛤️ Am I on track? Or would I be, if I were determined to ride RAGBRAI 2024? I’m far from sure. According to the info given, this year’s RAGBRAI will be the hilliest yet — and I’ve got a long way to go before I can become a good climber. Sure, I know — practice pushing hard in a hard gear; practice riding hard against a headwind. Good ideas in theory; but in actual practice, it’s very easy to slack off when I get tired. If I were riding real hills, I might not have that option.  How do I stack up against the recommended training plan? Am I on track? At the moment, yes; but in a few weeks, the mileages go up! Another aspect of RAGBRAI is weather. I’m used to humidity; but not to riding for miles in the hottest part of the afternoon. My practice has always been to ride early in the day, so as to avoid having to pedal in a 100+ heat index. During RAGBRAI, that seems to be impossible. A cooling neck gaiter would help; but I’d need to start going for afternoon rides, so I can develop the necessary conditioning. It might not be long before our afternoon temperatures reach well into the 80s; and now that I’m retired, I could do it. The catch is, do I really want to? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Logistics February 20, 2024 Drop It February 19, 2024 I Scream February 18, 2024 Another Windy One February 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Logistics

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Logistics 🚚 I’ve talked before about wanting to do RAGBRAI; but oh, the logistics! Even supposing I can train up adequately, I would still have a lot of other work to do! The logistics of a trip to the salvage store can seem quite a lot at times; and doing RAGBRAI would mean a great deal more than that!  How do I get to and from Iowa? I’d have to find someone local who is also doing the ride; and pay for gas in exchange for transportation. If that fails, what are the options? It looks like flying is the only one; the map of Amtrak’s routes looks like they only go across the southern part of the state. Or can I take the train to the westernmost station in Iowa; and get bus service to the RAGBRAI start town? Flying raises the question of how to safely transport my bicycle. A good bicycle case is not cheap; and does it make sense to buy one, and use it for perhaps one trip? The week in between getting to and from Iowa has its own logistics. To use a Camel-Bak, or not? They say, chances to refill your water bottles are about 10 miles apart; but if I just use a water bottle, I’d have to stop every mile or so to get my bottle of electrolyte drink. I’m better off taking a gulp of electrolyte drink every few minutes; not every 10 miles. What about carrying food? There’s plenty to eat along the route; but I’d rather have a bite every 15 minutes than ride for an hour and more between towns; stuff myself; then start riding again. Maybe eat bars on the bike, in between breakfast; lunch; and supper? And how about camping? And charging up my cell phone and cyclocomputer? Showering? Washing out my cycling clothes … I feel tired already! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Elementor #163126 February 20, 2024 Drop It February 19, 2024 I Scream February 18, 2024 Another Windy One February 17, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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